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Article FREEMASONRY & ISRAELITISM. ← Page 3 of 3 Article THE FORTHCOMING EDITION OF THE IRISH A HIMAN REZON. Page 1 of 2 Article THE FORTHCOMING EDITION OF THE IRISH A HIMAN REZON. Page 1 of 2 Article THE FORTHCOMING EDITION OF THE IRISH A HIMAN REZON. Page 1 of 2 →
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Freemasonry & Israelitism.
While thus recounting the philanthropic and benevolent deeds of our race , I am not forgetful that there is another side to the picture . I have already said , we have much ignorance , much vice , and much misery amongst us , which challenge the attention
of all who are capable—and who is not ?—of aiding in their suppression . Much of the ignorance , and much of the , vice and crime which are its natural fruits , will be removed by the Education Act of 1871 , and by the extension of the Factory Acts to all children employed in trades and other occupations ;
while the modifications made , from time to time , in the Poor Law are bringing it much more in harmony with the national character for sympathy and benevolence . We have much to do before we shall fully recognise our obligations and faithfully discharge them . But we are going forward .
Meanwhile , " Let us all be up and , doing , With a heart for any fate ; Still achieving , still pursuing , Learn to labour and to wait ! "
The Forthcoming Edition Of The Irish A Himan Rezon.
THE FORTHCOMING EDITION OF THE IRISH A HIMAN REZON .
The article by our esteemed Bro . Hughan , on "The New Constitutions of Grand Lodge of Ireland , " in THE FREEMASON of
Sept . 2 nd , is another added to the many contributions for which the Craft at large have to thank him . It is useful , especially just now , as it calls attention to several
points that require careful consideration , and will help to " straighten" matters somewhat for the discussion of the various rules when they shall be submitted for confirmation to our Grand Lodge .
I have to thank him , personally , for the communication , as it enables me to say something on the subject , it having been brought forward and published by a brother not under the jurisdiction of our G . L . One
of our G . L . Rules prohibits the printing or publishing of any of the transactions of G . L ., of any private lodge , or of any Masonic committee , and also prohibits " any comment thereon , or reference thereto '' without
the permission of the G . L ., the G . M ., or the D . G . M ., and thus practically shuts us out from legally bringing before the Craft at
large many matters that might be advantageously considered in the pages of a Masonic journal . I hold that in Masonry , as in other organisations , free and full
discussion is most useful , and that there ought to be as little restriction as possible on Masonic discussion , which does not touch too closely on the " secrets and mysteries " of the Order ; but while the law exists , I of
course , feel bound to obey it , and might have felt some scruple in bringing forward , in the first instance , comments on our new laws . But as Bro . Hughan has opened the consideration of the subject , I feci myself
quite at liberty to deal with the matters referred to in his article . I quite agree with our valued brother , that " too much care cannot be observed in the making of new laws , " and as some of
the new laws now proposed mean more than , perhaps , appears at first sight , it would be well for the members of our Irish G . L . to be " wise in time , " so as to be prepared to deal at the proper time with regulations
that , if passed , may be applied so as to ' conserve" existing objectionable tendencies , and so as to interfere unwarrantably with the " rights and privileges" of individual
brethren . The first allusion to the new laws made £ y Bro . Hughan refers to the "Prayers to , be used in lodges . " He states that ,
The Forthcoming Edition Of The Irish A Himan Rezon.
" Although several are of a Christian character ( and actually as those used generally during the last century ) , other prayers ,
suitable for the most particular , are likewise inserted , and can be delivered by Jews , Turks , or Parsees with the greatest propriety . "
Now , I contend that the Grand Lodge should not put forward or sanction any prayer that could not be joined in conscientiously by not only " Jews , Turks , or Parsees , " but by any believer in God , no matter
under what form of worship or in what frame of words his religious belief may find expression . The grand leading idea of Masonry is , its unlimited tolerance in religious matters . Elsewhere , men may and do
differ widely and mischievously as to their estimate of the Supreme Being , and religious intolerance is at the bottom of many of those unhappy convulsions that in all ages and under various circumstances have
rent asunder the human race . Masonry holds out to us the one platform , ascending to which we leave behind us our differences of faith and creed , and meet together " on the level " as brethren of one universal
family , acknowledging one creating and protecting Parent . Prayer is an address to that Great Being whom we all acknowledge , and the Mason ' s prayer should be as simple and as comprehensive as the Mason ' s creed .
" I believe in one God , the Father Almighty , Maker of Heaven and Earth , and of all things visible and invisible , " is a creed to which every Mason can subscribe , but there it stops , and any attempt to Christianize
ourprayers , or to add to them the teachings of any of our "isms , " is a departure from our ancient landmarks , and an innovation dangerous to the stability of the Craft and insulting to many " good and true "
brethren . I have frequently been pained to hear the name of Him , whom I , as well as the great majority of our brethren here , acknowledge as the Saviour , used in Masonic prayers when those were present who do
not—and from their stand-point , cannotlook on Him in the same light ; and I cannot think that the introduction of His name on such occasions is altogether out of place in a Society that professes to admit all but
those who proclaim themselves Atheists . I know that there are those who would be , perhaps , disposed to look upon the expunging of Christian prayers from the Ritual of Craft and Royal Arch Masonry ( to which
alone my objections apply ) as an abandonment of " Christian principle , " and who would consider it their duty , "in seasonand out of season , " to advance what they believe to be " the truth . " To them I would sug-______ o
gest that it should be a matter for consideration of their conscience whether they should remain members of a Society which places all creeds and all doctrines on the same level , and refuses to allow either the
true or the false , as they consider them , expression within their boundaries ; and I would refer them to His teaching , " who spoke as never man spake , " Himself a Jew , while at the same the Founder of
Christianity , and remind them that he gave to His disciples a model prayer , which we Masons might , without the slightest inconsistency , adopt as ours . I knoiv that the use of Christian prayers at our lodges and in our
public meetings does give annoyance to our Jewish brethren , for example ; and trust that Grand Lodge will deal practically with the matter , bystriking out or altering the
alternative prayer where it assumes a Christian character . In Templar and Rose Croix Masonry , as a profession of Christianity is necessary , in Ireland , Christian prayers are of course useful and appropriate .
The Forthcoming Edition Of The Irish A Himan Rezon.
The law requiring P . M . 's to take out a certificate at a cost of 5 s . has been recently introduced , and whether it be the fee or the novelty , comparatively few P . M . ' s have since qualified themselves in that respect as
members of G . L . I trust they will see the necessity of at once doing this , so as to be entitled to give theirvotes on the new laws . As to the law by which Grand Officers and P . M . ' s retain their place in G . L . by a
payment of two pounds annually , without being at the same time subscribing members of any subordinate lodge , I agree with Bro . Hughan that it requires alteration . All
members of G . L . taking part , as they do , in thegovernment of the subordinate lodges , should be members of , and contribute to , the funds of some one or other of those
private lodges , and when they lose sight of what is , to some extent , their representative capacity , they are very apt to " give themselves airs , " and to assume a bearing which would in some cases be offensive , if it were not also ludicrous .
Rule No . 9 provides that visitors to G . L . shall not be admitted , except by permission of the presiding officers . It seems to me that an improvement would be , to give the right of admission to G . L . to all M . M . 's of
good standing . They must obey the rules made by G . L . They have an interest in knowing what is going on in the Craft at large , and as they cannot speak or vote in G . L . as M M . ' s , their presence would not be
likely to do any harm . Practically , they have always been admitted , with , I believe , one solitary exception , when they were for a short period of the meeting excluded to enable the presiding officer to keep out an
English visiting brother , whose presence , he was informed , might lead to discord . The wisdom of the course adopted on that occasion has been much questioned , and if any occasion should arise wherein it might
be deemed expedient to confine the meeting to G . L . members , all others might be directed to withdraw , by a resolution put to , and carried by , G . L . The rule giving into the hands of the
Grand Officers the nomination of their successors , is an innovation . Heretofore " The Board of General Purposes , " composed of representatives from the various lodges , nominated the Grand Officers , subject to
the vote of G . L ., any member of which could previously propose another candidate for any position . It is not the only point
on which an attempt is being made to curtail the privileges and action of the Board , and I am much mistaken if innovations in that direction will be submitted to .
Bro . Hughan s query on the 24 th proposed law is very pertinent , and I , for one , am of opinion that it is not " desirable to leave such an arbitrary power in the hands of the presiding officer . " I would be
disposed toadd to the rule givingdiscretionary power to the presiding officer to reject any notice of motion which he may deem "improper , unlawful , or inconsistent with
the ancient landmarks of the Order , " a clause giving the right of appeal to the next meeting of Grand Lodge , which meeting shall decide whether such notice of motion
shall , or shall not , be received . There will probably be a good deal of discussion on the 30 th rule , and I am not so sure as Bro . Hughan appears to be that " the members can , and no doubt will , carry
this regulation ; " at least , I think it will be modified in some such way as he suggests . As the rule is a very important one , and contains an " innovation" evidently contrived for a particular purpose , I quote it as it stands : — " 30 . The Grand Lodge strictly prohibits ai
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry & Israelitism.
While thus recounting the philanthropic and benevolent deeds of our race , I am not forgetful that there is another side to the picture . I have already said , we have much ignorance , much vice , and much misery amongst us , which challenge the attention
of all who are capable—and who is not ?—of aiding in their suppression . Much of the ignorance , and much of the , vice and crime which are its natural fruits , will be removed by the Education Act of 1871 , and by the extension of the Factory Acts to all children employed in trades and other occupations ;
while the modifications made , from time to time , in the Poor Law are bringing it much more in harmony with the national character for sympathy and benevolence . We have much to do before we shall fully recognise our obligations and faithfully discharge them . But we are going forward .
Meanwhile , " Let us all be up and , doing , With a heart for any fate ; Still achieving , still pursuing , Learn to labour and to wait ! "
The Forthcoming Edition Of The Irish A Himan Rezon.
THE FORTHCOMING EDITION OF THE IRISH A HIMAN REZON .
The article by our esteemed Bro . Hughan , on "The New Constitutions of Grand Lodge of Ireland , " in THE FREEMASON of
Sept . 2 nd , is another added to the many contributions for which the Craft at large have to thank him . It is useful , especially just now , as it calls attention to several
points that require careful consideration , and will help to " straighten" matters somewhat for the discussion of the various rules when they shall be submitted for confirmation to our Grand Lodge .
I have to thank him , personally , for the communication , as it enables me to say something on the subject , it having been brought forward and published by a brother not under the jurisdiction of our G . L . One
of our G . L . Rules prohibits the printing or publishing of any of the transactions of G . L ., of any private lodge , or of any Masonic committee , and also prohibits " any comment thereon , or reference thereto '' without
the permission of the G . L ., the G . M ., or the D . G . M ., and thus practically shuts us out from legally bringing before the Craft at
large many matters that might be advantageously considered in the pages of a Masonic journal . I hold that in Masonry , as in other organisations , free and full
discussion is most useful , and that there ought to be as little restriction as possible on Masonic discussion , which does not touch too closely on the " secrets and mysteries " of the Order ; but while the law exists , I of
course , feel bound to obey it , and might have felt some scruple in bringing forward , in the first instance , comments on our new laws . But as Bro . Hughan has opened the consideration of the subject , I feci myself
quite at liberty to deal with the matters referred to in his article . I quite agree with our valued brother , that " too much care cannot be observed in the making of new laws , " and as some of
the new laws now proposed mean more than , perhaps , appears at first sight , it would be well for the members of our Irish G . L . to be " wise in time , " so as to be prepared to deal at the proper time with regulations
that , if passed , may be applied so as to ' conserve" existing objectionable tendencies , and so as to interfere unwarrantably with the " rights and privileges" of individual
brethren . The first allusion to the new laws made £ y Bro . Hughan refers to the "Prayers to , be used in lodges . " He states that ,
The Forthcoming Edition Of The Irish A Himan Rezon.
" Although several are of a Christian character ( and actually as those used generally during the last century ) , other prayers ,
suitable for the most particular , are likewise inserted , and can be delivered by Jews , Turks , or Parsees with the greatest propriety . "
Now , I contend that the Grand Lodge should not put forward or sanction any prayer that could not be joined in conscientiously by not only " Jews , Turks , or Parsees , " but by any believer in God , no matter
under what form of worship or in what frame of words his religious belief may find expression . The grand leading idea of Masonry is , its unlimited tolerance in religious matters . Elsewhere , men may and do
differ widely and mischievously as to their estimate of the Supreme Being , and religious intolerance is at the bottom of many of those unhappy convulsions that in all ages and under various circumstances have
rent asunder the human race . Masonry holds out to us the one platform , ascending to which we leave behind us our differences of faith and creed , and meet together " on the level " as brethren of one universal
family , acknowledging one creating and protecting Parent . Prayer is an address to that Great Being whom we all acknowledge , and the Mason ' s prayer should be as simple and as comprehensive as the Mason ' s creed .
" I believe in one God , the Father Almighty , Maker of Heaven and Earth , and of all things visible and invisible , " is a creed to which every Mason can subscribe , but there it stops , and any attempt to Christianize
ourprayers , or to add to them the teachings of any of our "isms , " is a departure from our ancient landmarks , and an innovation dangerous to the stability of the Craft and insulting to many " good and true "
brethren . I have frequently been pained to hear the name of Him , whom I , as well as the great majority of our brethren here , acknowledge as the Saviour , used in Masonic prayers when those were present who do
not—and from their stand-point , cannotlook on Him in the same light ; and I cannot think that the introduction of His name on such occasions is altogether out of place in a Society that professes to admit all but
those who proclaim themselves Atheists . I know that there are those who would be , perhaps , disposed to look upon the expunging of Christian prayers from the Ritual of Craft and Royal Arch Masonry ( to which
alone my objections apply ) as an abandonment of " Christian principle , " and who would consider it their duty , "in seasonand out of season , " to advance what they believe to be " the truth . " To them I would sug-______ o
gest that it should be a matter for consideration of their conscience whether they should remain members of a Society which places all creeds and all doctrines on the same level , and refuses to allow either the
true or the false , as they consider them , expression within their boundaries ; and I would refer them to His teaching , " who spoke as never man spake , " Himself a Jew , while at the same the Founder of
Christianity , and remind them that he gave to His disciples a model prayer , which we Masons might , without the slightest inconsistency , adopt as ours . I knoiv that the use of Christian prayers at our lodges and in our
public meetings does give annoyance to our Jewish brethren , for example ; and trust that Grand Lodge will deal practically with the matter , bystriking out or altering the
alternative prayer where it assumes a Christian character . In Templar and Rose Croix Masonry , as a profession of Christianity is necessary , in Ireland , Christian prayers are of course useful and appropriate .
The Forthcoming Edition Of The Irish A Himan Rezon.
The law requiring P . M . 's to take out a certificate at a cost of 5 s . has been recently introduced , and whether it be the fee or the novelty , comparatively few P . M . ' s have since qualified themselves in that respect as
members of G . L . I trust they will see the necessity of at once doing this , so as to be entitled to give theirvotes on the new laws . As to the law by which Grand Officers and P . M . ' s retain their place in G . L . by a
payment of two pounds annually , without being at the same time subscribing members of any subordinate lodge , I agree with Bro . Hughan that it requires alteration . All
members of G . L . taking part , as they do , in thegovernment of the subordinate lodges , should be members of , and contribute to , the funds of some one or other of those
private lodges , and when they lose sight of what is , to some extent , their representative capacity , they are very apt to " give themselves airs , " and to assume a bearing which would in some cases be offensive , if it were not also ludicrous .
Rule No . 9 provides that visitors to G . L . shall not be admitted , except by permission of the presiding officers . It seems to me that an improvement would be , to give the right of admission to G . L . to all M . M . 's of
good standing . They must obey the rules made by G . L . They have an interest in knowing what is going on in the Craft at large , and as they cannot speak or vote in G . L . as M M . ' s , their presence would not be
likely to do any harm . Practically , they have always been admitted , with , I believe , one solitary exception , when they were for a short period of the meeting excluded to enable the presiding officer to keep out an
English visiting brother , whose presence , he was informed , might lead to discord . The wisdom of the course adopted on that occasion has been much questioned , and if any occasion should arise wherein it might
be deemed expedient to confine the meeting to G . L . members , all others might be directed to withdraw , by a resolution put to , and carried by , G . L . The rule giving into the hands of the
Grand Officers the nomination of their successors , is an innovation . Heretofore " The Board of General Purposes , " composed of representatives from the various lodges , nominated the Grand Officers , subject to
the vote of G . L ., any member of which could previously propose another candidate for any position . It is not the only point
on which an attempt is being made to curtail the privileges and action of the Board , and I am much mistaken if innovations in that direction will be submitted to .
Bro . Hughan s query on the 24 th proposed law is very pertinent , and I , for one , am of opinion that it is not " desirable to leave such an arbitrary power in the hands of the presiding officer . " I would be
disposed toadd to the rule givingdiscretionary power to the presiding officer to reject any notice of motion which he may deem "improper , unlawful , or inconsistent with
the ancient landmarks of the Order , " a clause giving the right of appeal to the next meeting of Grand Lodge , which meeting shall decide whether such notice of motion
shall , or shall not , be received . There will probably be a good deal of discussion on the 30 th rule , and I am not so sure as Bro . Hughan appears to be that " the members can , and no doubt will , carry
this regulation ; " at least , I think it will be modified in some such way as he suggests . As the rule is a very important one , and contains an " innovation" evidently contrived for a particular purpose , I quote it as it stands : — " 30 . The Grand Lodge strictly prohibits ai